Windsor police bust team of sophisticated break-in artists

Van Niforos is seen next to the lock a group of would-be thieves broke in order to enter the Penalty Box in Windsor on Firday, January 31, 2014. Four men were arrested inside in the early hours of Friday. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

A team of sophisticated burglars were in the midst of their latest heist early Friday when Windsor police trapped the masked bandits inside a popular restaurant.

Officers investigating a months-long crime spree moved in after watching the criminal quartet break into The Penalty Box Too restaurant.

“We’ve had several commercial-type break and enters over the last several months where locks are spun, alarms are cut and suspects are going in and stealing from safes,” said Sgt. Matthew D’Asti. “Pretty elaborate methods of operation. They were a sophisticated unit that was using a certain methodology to break into businesses and steal.”

Police believe Friday’s arrests will put an end to that spree.

Christopher Miller, 33, is charged with break and enter to a business, possession of break in instruments, having his face masked with intent to commit an indictable offence, possession of weapon dangerous to the public and mischief.

Robert Rockwood, 42, is charged with break and enter to a business, possession of break in instruments, having his face masked with intent to commit an indictable offence and mischief.

Andrew Staruch, 27, is charged with break and enter to a business, possession of break in instruments, having his face masked with intent to commit an indictable offence and mischief.

A 15-year-old young offender is also charged with break and enter to a business, possession of break in instruments, having his face masked with intent to commit an indictable offence and mischief. His name hasn’t been released.

D’Asti said the break-ins included one at Club Alouette on Central Avenue and a Christmas Eve Metro grocery store heist at 3663 Tecumseh Rd. E.

In the Metro break-in, police said the crooks cut the phone lines to disable the security alarms. They also popped out ceiling tiles to disable audible alarms inside the store. Then they made their way to the office, broke into a couple safes and made off with thousands of dollars.

After noticing the trend of repeated break-ins, police established an “investigative project” aimed at ending the heists.

On Friday around 2:15 a.m., officers with the Target Base Unit saw several “persons of interest” near Walker Road and Tecumseh Road East. Officers watched as they broke into The Penalty Box Too at 2151 Walker.

Police wouldn’t say if they had been following the suspects or how they knew the burglars would be there. But D’Asti said the officers did watch the thieves break in to the restaurant.

Once the thieves were inside, the unit called patrol officers for back-up.

“They set up a perimeter, then the officers went in and arrested them,” said D’Asti.

Officers found two of the burglars right away. The other two were hiding in the basement stock room.

Penalty Box owner Van Niforos said police called him at home around 4 a.m. Friday to tell him what had just happened.

“Personally, I feel they were trying to steal the Delight sauce,” he said.

He said police told them they apprehended four people in his restaurant.

“They had cut the phone lines and the alarm,” said Niforos.

Niforos said Friday everything seemed to be accounted for including the Chicken Delight sauce – one of the restaurant’s most popular items. But there was some damage.

“The women’s bathroom door for some reason was kicked in,” said Niforos. “I see a footprint on the bottom of the door and the hinges are damaged. I don’t know if one of them was hiding in there. Around the safe, the cover was open but I don’t think they could get in.”

He said this was the second time someone broke into his restaurant. A couple years ago, someone smashed the front window and took a TV.

“It’s upsetting,” said Niforos. “It’s a violation. It’s quite upsetting. I’m trying to make light of it, but it happened once before and it’s not a good feeling. But these things happen. There’s nothing you can do. I’m glad they caught them. The Delight sauce is safe, it didn’t affect the business at all.”

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